9 Months

I am in serious denial right now! My "baby" is nine months old! And he wants to be twice that age! Maybe it's the difference between first child and second child, but Zach seems like he's in such a hurry to grow up. He's crawling -- lightning fast, I might add -- and sitting, and pounding down crazy amounts of food, and wanting to ride in the seat of the grocery cart and NOT in his car seat. Grant and I have a hunch he'll be an earlier walker than Eliot was, too. And I just want him to stay little and be my snuggly babe! Even if he's in a rush to be a big boy, I wouldn't trade my Zachers for anything. He has such a sweet and happy disposition, mixed with a fair share of mischievousness!

Here's some of what Zach's up to as a 9 month old:

• Crawling like crazy. He is one quick dude!
• Pulling to standing. He's especially motivated if there's something he can get into, like food at the kids' table, puzzles or toys on the train table, laundry on the couch or ottoman. The only down side to this skill (besides getting into everything) is that he doesn't know how to get back down. He just stands and fusses for help!
• Babbling up a storm. We're moving away from the screams and screeches, but he has kept them in his repertoire and saves them for what he deems as opportune moments -- like sacrament meeting.
• Gobbling up food. Ironic that we've spent some extra time at the pediatrician's, who's concerned about his weight, because the kid has put one serious dent in our grocery bill and eats like a pig. He loves just about anything we give him, which is great.
• Sitting up tall. We were getting nervous about this one. He crawled before he ever sat. He just didn't seem interested (there's too much to do, after all!) But now he sits up big and strong.
• Four teeth and working on an entire top row. There's no shortage of drool around these parts!
• Hair's still a beautiful strawberry blond, but getting long and wispy. I'm tempted to trim off the "wings" over his ears but can't bring myself to give him that first haircut. So for now he stays fuzzy wuzzy. But oh, it's gorgeous in the sunlight!
• Sweet and happy. He can charm just about anyone with his squinty, cheesy smile. He reminds me so much of Grant because he is honestly happy all the time (except if you fail to get food in his mouth fast enough).

We love our little "Ree"!!

Climbing in the foam pits at cousin Madelyn's birthday party in March. Just one of the big kids!

"The world is my jungle gym." Give him anything, he'll climb in, on, through, around, on top of it!! Another busy, busy boy!